They have also been revamped to have modern settings, like a flashlight, microphone/speakers, and weather alerts. Today, walkie-talkies are equipped with impressive features and are used by everyone from security personnel to event planners.
While not powerful, they allowed them to speak with another who was no more than 200 feet away. By placing a few dry batteries inside, the walkie-talkie could be carried around by soldiers.ĭuring the late 1960s, hobby models were invented for kids. Gross worked alongside Motorola to improve on Hings’s design by trying to increase the frequency above 100 MHz so it could reach a longer distance.Įventually, this device became portable.
His patent was kept a secret by the Canadian government so they could quietly work alongside the British during the war.ĭuring the war, various inventors upgraded the walkie-talkie. They were originally designed to help commercial pilots safely communicate with each other but soon found a new purpose when World War II erupted. Walkie-talkies were invented in 1937 by Don Hings, a prominent Canadian inventor. However, at one point in history, they were considered to be one of the most advanced pieces of technology.īelow you’ll discover more information about the history of these unique devices and how they have shaped modern communication. Walkie-talkies and two-way radios are so common today that most pay no attention to them.